C (26) Aunt May need to know

'Oh, if Aunt May knew he wasn't just a normal kid.'

Well, she'd find out today anyway as Tony intended on revealing to her Peter's abilities, even if the kid did not want it.

A part of him worried doing so would prevent Peter coming to trust him and getting close to him. Peter didn't know it would work out.

Tony had the foresight to know Aunt May would be very supportive of her nephew.

"As part of Stark Industries recruitment drive, we contact all the schools in the area to determine which students may benefit from an internship. It is a programme which has been going on for a while. I do not personally get involved very often, however Peter's potential was flagged up to me as one to watch, and I figured it would be beneficial to meet with him, to discuss his future career options."

"Oh…" May seem surprised. "He always has been a smart kid. I'll go get him, shall I?"

"Please," replied Tony.

"Take a seat, Mr. Stark." She pointed to the couch. "I'll be right back."

He watched her leave, feeling a bit nervous at the prospect of seeing Peter again and the kid not knowing or fully understanding how much he meant to Tony.

May returned quite quickly with a teenaged boy behind her, his round face surprised at the presence of Tony Stark in his living room.

"Mr. Stark, this is Peter. Peter, Tony Stark."

Tony stretched forward, holding his hand out to Peter. The boy took it, shaking Tony's hand.

"My aunt tells me you'd like to offer me an internship?" asked Peter, his voice shaking a bit.

"I do," confirmed Tony. "You have unique skills Stark Industries and the Avengers would be interested in." He emphasised the word Avengers, hoping the kid would understand the meaning.

He did because his eyes widened, but he tried to maintain his cool.

"I think… think you've got the wrong person, Mr. Stark. I'm not sure I can help you... And I do not have any skills which would benefit the Avengers either…"

Tony smiled. "Nonsense. You can. I know you can. I have proof." He held up his phone.

Peter squeaked which caused Aunt May to look at him in surprise.

"What's going on, Peter?" she asked.

"Can I talk to you… alone? Mr. Stark?"

"If your Aunt is fine with it…" Tony gave the ball over to May.

"Sure… that's fine." Though she did look a bit worried.

Tony followed Peter to his room.

As soon as the door was closed, Peter sat on the edge of the bed, fiddling with his fingers, determining what the best question would be.

"You're probably wondering why I am here," said Tony quietly, already guessing what the kid's question would be.

"Yeah."

Tony pulled out his phone, flipped it and projected a video of a kid swinging through New York. "That's you. Isn't it?"

"No!" Peter replied too quickly. "It's just a home-made video."

Glancing up at the ceiling, Tony pointed up with his finger. "If I opened the small loft space you've got up there, I wouldn't find a suit then?" He knew it was where Peter kept it hidden.

Peter's face paled. "Erm…"

"Kid, I'm here to help you." Tony continued gently. "I know who you are and what you can do. I'll open the loft if I have to."

"Please don't! Just… don't tell Aunt May. She'll freak out!"

Tony winced. He'd agreed with that condition before but he couldn't this time. "Sorry, your Aunt needs to know." May had been angry at first, then scared for her nephew but then had accepted Peter's new role as the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.

He didn't see any reason why she wouldn't be supportive this time.

"She'll ground me!" Peter protested.

"She won't."

"You don't know that!"

Tony wanted to laugh but Peter was becoming more and more agitated, so he sat down on the edge of Peter's bed.

"I'm trying to help you. You underestimate your Aunt. Look, I need your help and I cannot have it on my conscience if something happened to you and your Aunt could never know the truth. Sometimes it is best to let go of our pride. The people who love us will understand." Because Pepper did despite the continual fears she had he'd kill himself.

Tony hoped to avoid that outcome.

"What do you need me for?" asked Peter quietly. "Mr. Stark?"

"Call me, Tony," he smiled gently.

He could just recall Peter saying' Tony' in a broken voice. The kid had been devastated at seeing Tony's wounds.

If Tony could have spared Peter from seeing it, he would have done.

It felt good to be talking to Peter again, even though the relationship they'd once had was no longer there.

It would take time to build up again but Tony hoped Peter could come to trust him again. "You have superpowers, unique abilities we could use. We need people like you on the Avengers."

"You want me to join the Avengers?" Peter gasped, his eyes widening in surprise and his mouth hanging open.

He struggled to close it in his shock.

"No, not just yet. You need training," reaffirmed Tony.

The kid's face deflated a bit. "You wouldn't be allowed on the team without sufficient training and knowledge of certain protocols. You'd be on the reserve team, to be called up if we desperately needed you. But that isn't all. I'm serious about an internship: a genuine offer to you to come and work for me. But, the catch is, your Aunt May has to know the full truth."

Peter swallowed. "If I said no would you still tell her?"

"I feel as the adult in this room it would be my moral duty to inform her," replied Tony carefully.

Peter's shoulders dropped. "Either way, she's going to find out."

"She'll find out eventually. Isn't it better for her to know the truth?" Tony studied Peter.

He could see him considering the options Tony had given him, already knowing Tony would not be leaving Aunt May out of it.

"I guess…"

Tony leaned forward. "It doesn't have to be today. I'm not going to push for an answer just yet." He still had time.

"Think about it." He pulled a card out of his pocket, passing it to Peter.

"My number. Call me."

***

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